For the past ten years, the government has been promising vendors and leaders that it would construct a modern market, but to date, nothing has been done.
Some of the stalls inside Masindi central market.Leaders and vendors have tasked the government to expedite the process of construction new market.Photo by Emmanuel Okello.
Leaders in Masindi Municipality and vendors operating in
Masindi central market are irked and frustrated by the delayed construction of
a new modern market under the Markets and Agriculture Trade Improvement Project
(MATIP).
For the past ten years, the government has been promising vendors
and leaders that it would construct a modern market, but to
date, nothing has been done.
In September 2022, the government announced that it had earmarked
shillings 42 billion for the construction of the Masindi modern market.
The current Masindi central market is operating in a
dilapidated structure with over 1,000 vendors being accommodated. There
is poor hygiene at the market putting the vendors at the risk of contracting
diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera.
The market operates in darkness, especially during the night
hours since there is not enough light posing the vendors to threat and invasion of thugs.
According to the leaders, the government tasked them to
avail land for the construction of the market and the Municipality acquired a
piece of land measuring five acres, but the government has since failed to begin the
construction works.
Joselyne Alinaitwe, one of the vendors states that, at
times thugs raid the market stealing their merchandise.
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Gilbert Abigaba, another vendor explains that, currently
there is too much congestion in the market given the huge number of vendors and
calls on the government to expedite the process of building a modern market.
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Wilbert Talemwa, also a vendor explains that there is poor
hygiene at the market putting them at risk of contracting diseases like
diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera. He says, the facility only has one latrine to cater for
the over 1,000 vendors.
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On March 23, 2020, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of
Local Government Ben Kumamanya wrote to the town clerk of Masindi Municipality
stating that, Masindi Central Market had been considered
for re-development and as part of the prerequisite for executing the program, the
municipality officials were required to submit a copy of the land title where
the market would be located, a copy of the register of vendors and a copy of
the management structure.
According to the letter then, Masindi Municipal Council
authorities were supposed to send the documents no later than April 17th 2020.
Kumumanya then promised that, the market would be
constructed during the 2020/2021 financial year under the Markets and
Agricultural Trade Improvement Project (MATIP) but all in vain.
In 2022, officials from the local government ministry,
ministry of finance and those from the African Development Bank went to Masindi
Municipality to assess the situation of the market and also the area where the
vendors can be shifted to commence construction work but to date, nothing
is on the ground.
Joab Businge, the member of parliament for Masindi
municipality explains that everything had been done wondering why the
construction of a modern market in Masindi Municipality has stalled.
Isaac Bongmin, the LCIII Chairperson of the central division in
Masindi Municipality has appealed to the government to consider constructing a
modern market for Masindi district so that vendors can operate in a conducive
working environment.
In November 2024, Raphael Magyezi, the Minister of Local Government noted that the construction of Masindi modern market was approved by the African Developed Bank, adding that all designs were made and approved.
He then stated that they were waiting for the President's
signature because he is supposed to approve every loan.